A copy of the Squatter’s Handbook, where Olive appears climbing up the side of Railton Road’s squat, is included in Disobedient Objects at the Victoria and Albert Museum: “an exhibition about the art and design produced by grassroots social movements. It will show exhibits loaned from activist groups from all over the world, bringing together for the first time many objects rarely before seen in a museum”.

I want to ensure that any future plans retain the memory of Olive’s contribution and that she continues to be suitably honoured and I will therefore be keeping a close eye on the plans for Olive Morris House

I will be posting updates on how we can influence the planned proposals. Please watch this space.

The Olive Morris Memorial Awards have been organised by the Remembering Olive Collective (ROC) to celebrate the legacy of black woman activist Olive Morris. The Awards were created as an opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Olive Morris as it lives on in the work of a new generation of young women activists.

Women aged between 16 and 27 years of age, of African or Asian descent and involved in grassroots political work of any nature were nominated for the awards by their friends, colleagues or mentors. Of the nominees chosen to receive an award ROC will be honouring the work of:

Brenda May Goodchild—an artist creating powerful art for the current campaigns against the criminalisation of squatting in England and Wales;

Ria Hylton—involved in the Movement for Justice campaign against the deportation of Edson Comas;

Mirella—working with So We Stand, a UK-wide popular education collective focusing on struggles for environmental and social justice;

Nim Ralph—a founding member of So We Stand, working with communities across the UK to highlight the social and racial injustice of environmental issues. Also works with MOSAIC, an anti-racist group in Brighton;

Rukayah Sarumi—has organised lectures on black feminism and the history of the women’s movement in Britain and is now active in Streatham Labour Party; and

Iman Hussein—for her work in the Guides Movement challenging its lack of diversity and with Roots a self-education Black History collective of 6th form college pupils.

Event details:

The awards event will take place at 7 – 9.30 on Friday 2 December 2011 at The Karibu Education Centre, 7 Gresham Road, London, SW9 7PH
Tickets £3 Inclusive of food
There will be a live DJ set by Carlos Martinez (Agent of Change)
Spaces are limited so booking is essential

The Black Achievers Wall in the Legacy gallery at the International Slavery Museum is a celebration of Black Achievers past and present. These people represent a real mix of backgrounds, eras and disciplines, from civil rights campaigners and politicians to rock stars and poets. Some are household names like Bob Marley. Others, like rebel slave leader Gaspar Yanga, are virtually unknown to the general public, but all are inspirational.

On March 10 last year, and as part as the Celebrating Women season at the Museum, former ROC member Nadja Middleton made a presentation about Olive Morris and the work of ROC at the unveiling of three new plaques on the Black Achievers Wall. Watch out this space for further news about the dedication of Olive’s image on the Achievers Wall. It is likely there will be a repeat talk by Nadja or some other former member of ROC.

The image of Olive Morris is gracing the cover of a new book published in Germany. The book contains texts, manifestos, poems and songs by women activists from all times, including Simon de Beauvoir, Rosi Braidotti, Guerrilla Girls, Sushila Mesquita, Beatriz Preciado, Joan Riviere and Sojourner Truth.